Pawsitively Good Vibes

Keep going. You can get through these hard parts. Joy is coming. — Veli

---

Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm

High drama at the Chicken Shack this week when Mama Chicken decided it was time for her babies to sleep with the rest of the flock. For the past three weeks or so, she’s tucked them in at night in a little mobile coop. But on Wednesday night, she decided to take them into the Big House. Well: The babies couldn’t figure out the ramp. She went in, and they tried to follow, but kept jumping up and down on and off the ramp without, you know, turning and walking up and in the door.

Last summer, I installed an automatic chicken door, which closes every night after the sun sets. Of course, Mama was inside when the door closed, and her babies were caught out. A little after dark, I walked outside for night check and heard ferocious cries on both sides of the chicken door. I opened the shack and Mama came barreling out, clucking and cursing the whole way. Gently, I herded everyone back to the rolling coop for the night. She hasn't tried the ramp again since—but I am hopeful she will soon, as the shack is much more preditor-proof than their current spot.

We got rain and everyone is so grateful. About two weeks ago, I realized these endless sunny days were becoming a problem. The garden needed water, and I could tell the grass was giving up on trying to grow. Every day, I’d check the forecast and see nothing but blue sky for days. It’s shocking how much the weather affects your mood as a farmer. The low rumble of anxiety of seeing no rain coming anytime soon is just always there, deep in your gut, as you go about your days.

But finally, on Thursday: Rain! Oh, how sweet it smells as it soaks into the parched earth. It wasn’t a lot, but I’m grateful for every tenth of an inch. More is apparently on the way. Fingers crossed.

---

Here’s What I Loved This Week

This partnership between The New York Times and Cornell to get citizen scientists involved in tracking birds! I love that farming has made me much more of a citizen scientist. I am constantly seeing, hearing, smelling, and just generally noticing nature in my fields and wooded acres. When the birds arrive, when the bugs descend, what is thriving — all of it matters as the climate changes. I’m looking forward to recording some data (apparently, farming areas are chronically underrepresented in bird tracking data!) to contribute to the project. I hope you will too!